Hey Kids! It’s be a while since I posted on the Pulse blog. What’s been keeping me away? New job responsibilities outside [*GASP!*] the scope of social media. More on that another time. Today I have more important things to share with you.

For the past few years, IBM has been sending camera crews around the world to record as much as we can at our events. At some of the larger events, we also stream some of our sessions and interviews live. This is a key component of events today, in that it opens up the event to a much larger audience. Hint, hint.

For the first time, we are streaming live from Pulse Comes to You in London next week on May 30. The event will be attended by over 400 IBM clients and business partners, but we can expand that audience to virtually as many that want to be the first to hear our news next Wednesday. If you are still sleeping while we stream in real time, you can watch the replay while you have your morning coffee.

And if after reading the rest of this post you think my new professional assignment is the consequence of bad spelling, you might be right I'm just getting ready to ride in a car on the wrong side of the road.

Here’s what’s on the agenda:

Key Note 1: Optimising the World's Infrastructure
Jamie Thomas, Vice President of Tivoli Strategy and Development.
Jamie will discuss the critical role of technology in unleashing innovation, including cloud, mobile enterprises, smarter physical infrastructures and security.

Key Note 3: IBM Watson goes to Work
Dale Lane, Software Developer – DeepQA (Watson), Emerging Technologies.
Dale will talk about the work that has been done to apply Watson’s technological breakthroughs to real-world problems, as well as some of the plans for Watson's future.

In today’s edition of the Huffington Post, Marie Wieck, General Manager of Application and Integration Middleware, IBM Software Group wrote:

“The CIOs I talk with describe the avalanche of projects they face. Almost three quarters of the CIOs say they are investing in mobile deployments this year, of which one-third of those will be deployed in a cloud. However, 70 percent of their budgets, on average, are still spent on maintenance and 34 percent of their projects are late. It's a vicious cycle.”

Jamie Thomas, VP of Strategy & Development, IBM Tivoli will join Marie later this month at IBM Impact to help address how businesses can navigate through the “avalanche of projects” by turning these barriers to innovation into capabilities:

Delayed delivery of new applications and services

Inflexible development & delivery lifecycle

Marginal quality of applications and services

Discontinuous feedback preventing solution iterations

Inconspicuousness of impending problems

How do you turn barriers into capabilities to accelerate applications to market? That’s the magical part. Achieving agile service delivery requires improved visibility, control and automation. Development and operations teams must respond to market changes faster with unparalleled, fully automated tooling and infrastructure.

But Jamie won’t be waving any wands. You don’t need to when you lead an organization rich in deep expertise, client experience, standards based platforms, and end-to-end capabilities.

Responsible for driving collaboration across an organization committed to developing innovative tools and technologies, there’s no one who knows more about the IBM capability of quickly developing, testing, deploying, and monitoring applications. Tweeter @boosc, who saw her present at Pulse, agrees:

On behalf of the IBM team, thank you for making Pulse 2012 a huge success! If you missed something or just want a recap of some key highlights, visit youtube.com/ibmpulse. Then mark your calendar for the local Pulse event in your neck of the woods. Pulse Comes to You and Business without Limits days are half and full-day mini-conferences highlighting the best of Pulse. Business without Limits days offer deeper dives into Cloud, Smarter Physical Infrastructure, Security or Leveraging Mobility. Attending these events can enhance and extend the ROI of Pulse 2012 to help you react to changes in the organization with agility, reduce vulnerability throughout the service lifecycle, and continuously improve the business impact of the technology.

But you don't have to take it from me! Take it from IBM client Jacob Braun of wakadigital, who stopped by the Take Your Social Pulse booth during Pulse 2012 in Las Vegas and said, "The ROI of this event is simply immeasurable."

Pulse Day 3 Focuses on Innovation!Wednesday's general session was all about future innovation. After a fun introductory video highlighting IBM Research's “5 in 5”, host Scott Hebner introduced
Erich Clementi, Senior Vice President of IBM Global Technology Services, who
outlined how the delivery of IT Services will evolve with cloud in support of Smarter Computing. Noting that cloud consumption requires a very different delivery model.
It helps define the IT role in a new way—helping to integrate and aggregate services in order to optimize service delivery and business outcomes.
Helene Armitage, General Manager of Systems Software for the IBM Systems and Technology Group, discussed the factors that are influencing
system design for a smarter planet, including the consumerization of IT and data without limits.

Next, Manoj Saxena described the impact that IBM Watson will have on helping to solve some of the world's most daunting challenges. He outlined some of the history of Watson, and shared how
IBM is putting Watson to work to solve industry challenges by leveraging unprecedented analytics.
Watson, he said, is an enabler of the smarter planet vision--managing vast amounts of unstructured data and delivered as a cloud-based service.

The session ended with an engaging keynote conversation between special guest speaker Steve Wozniak and IBM's own Grady Booch. In this informal, fun discussion
Woz shared anecdotes about everything from his early days with Steve Jobs, his commitment to education, the importance of product marketing, and the keys to happiness. It's worth watching.

Stay InformedWhile Pulse 2012 has come to an end, there are plenty of ways to extend your Pulse experience.

1. Attend a Pulse Comes to YouA local Pulse event might be coming to a city near you. See the Pulse website for the schedule and more details.

2. Leverage Social MediaThis year's Social Pulse was stronger than ever, and you can take part.
Like the Pulse Facebook page to keep up with updates and tag yourself in Pulse photos. Follow @ibmpulse on Twitter and subscribe to the blogs that relate to your area of interest:

3. Utilize the Video LibraryThe video library on the Pulse website has a wide variety of videos to help you can experience more of Pulse.
You can watch general sessions, stream keynotes and anyinterviews from the Livestream stage, including some of the following:

Director of Strategy Don Cronin and IBM Fellow Mike Kaczmarski talk to Scott Laningham about the Interoperability Center, including a great
discussion about linked data, dev ops, cloud provisioning, and more.
here

Bob Sutor, VP of IBM Mobile Platform spoke to Scott Laningham about the platform, the mobile lifecycle,
and key points from the Monday Mobility and Endpoint Management keynote.here

Steve Mills, Executive Vice President of Software and Systems,
stopped by the LiveStream stage to recognize the IBM Champions for Tivoli,
and award them a recognition plaque. This is a great demonstration of IBM's commitment to those top talent BPs,
clients, academics, and consultants who are evangelists and go-to people in the user communities both face-to-face and online.here

Scott Laningham caught Pulse host Scott Hebner immediately after the opening general session
to get his thoughts about the session and the information being shared for the day.here

While the Pulse opening general session focused on strategy, Day 2 provided a roadmap to the opportunity highway: visibility, control, and automation in action.
"America's Got Talent" performers I-Luminate lit up the stage with their exciting integration of dance and technology. Host Scott Hebner welcomed the group, described the session's focus on
implementation, and recognized the importance of IBM Business Partners to supply critical capabilities, skills, and expertise.
Steve Mills followed with a wrapup of the broader IBM roadmap around Smarter Computing.
He shared the journey IBM has taken internally and with clients to meet the demands smarter planet solutions are placing on IT,
including applying the breadth of IBM solutions, or "eating our own cookie" to deliver faster time to value and lower operating costs.

Bob Picciano hosted a panel of clients featuring Peter Bews, Director for Cloud Computing for Rogers Communications,
David Kontra, Global Real Estate Portfolio Executive for GE,
Jill Holbrook, Associate Director Technology Infrastructure, Erie Board of Cooperative Education Services
and Tony Spinelli, Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Equifax.
They discussed the challenges companies are facing today, what innovative new strategies they are taking advantage of and how IBM is helping them make use of Cloud, Smart Physical Infrastructure, Mobility and Security and Compliance.

Jamie Thomas then
described new additions to the IBM portfolio and the roadmaps IBM is putting in place to help clients succeed (accelerators, progression paths, etc.).
With a focus on standards Jamie will also preview what to expect from IBM as we move forward in time from a technology perspective and oriented around Visibility, Control and Automation.
Read about the announcements here.

Grady Booch Describes Computing: The Human Experience
IBM Fellow Grady Booch provided an overview of Computing: The Human Experience to a packed house Tuesday afternoon.
He described this rich yet tragic connection between computing and conflict and the implications in the future of war.

Expo Happenings

Tuesday was a busy day at the Solution Expo, and not just at the EDI booth, where the Ace of Cakes made a repeat visit. The Expo is open from 12:00 to 4:00 today, so come take advantage of it!

Service Management Connect
Take a tour of Service Management Connect, which Jamie Thomas announced during the general session.
Learn how you can participate in the product development process, made transparent with open access to release plans, milestone code, and sprint demos. Help make IBM products better by communicating your
priorities and collaborating with other users.
Learn more

Client Connections and Hospitality Lounge
It's not too late to be connected to another IBM client! Stop by the Client Hospitality Lounge and sign up to
meet one-on-one with an IBM client reference. Learn how other companies are using an IBM solution to make
smarter business decisions, brainstorm new ideas, or discuss a particular challenge you’re having. If you are or would like to become a
IBM client reference, stop by and sign up. Response has been positive:
“Telling our story helps make a phenomenal product even better." says Jason Brock, CLS Asset Management Lead, Battelle
and "IBM's reference program helps us connect w/& learn from others so we don't have to reinvent the wheel" tweeted Karen Dietz, @ChoiceHotels

Meet the Experts
Meet the Experts, which changed its format to a roundtable format this year, has had a steady stream of participants. The most popular topics include Maximo, BigFix, Q1 Labs, and Storage Virtualization.
Sessions will continue through Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., including repeats of popular sessions.

Smarter Computing
If you could double your capacity without increasing costs, wouldn't you? To hear more about how to achieve the economies and efficiencies Steve Mills described in Tuesday's keynote, visit the Smarter Computing
booth and talk to experts about IBM systems and sofware that can address today's challenges.

WatsonIBM's most famous game show contestent is at Pulse! Play Jeopardy against Watson and learn more about him, including the history and how Watson is being used to meet real-world needs, including the
partnership Wellpoint's George Zaruba described in Monday's general session. Watson can be found in the Smarter Computing zone in the Solution Expo.

Complete those Evaluations!Speaking of Watson, get a free Watson t-shirt! Remember to complete your session and overall conference surveys on the Pulse SmartSite--there
are prizes involved! Once you have completed your overall conference survey, stop by the registration desk to pick up your Watson shirt. For each session survey you complete, you are registered for a drawing for a free Apple iPod Touch.

While you are in the Solution Expo, be sure to take the time to visit the Tivoli Accredited Partners in the Solution Expo. They are highlighted in the Pulse conference guide and they have Accredited signs in their booths.
These partners have invested heavily in Tivoli deployment skills so that they can ensure a successful implementation of service management solutions in your business.
Accredited partners are great resources for you to chat with and get new ideas on how to improve your business!

Visit Platinum Sponsor Pirean and Help One of Three Charities
Gartner predicts that by 2014, 90% of organizations will support corporate applications on personal devices. Everyone is talking about “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD), and most businesses will need to review their policies to accommodate it.
We are all too familiar with hearing about the security challenges that organizations will need to overcome, but what do employees think about BYOD? Pirean would really like to find out! Drop by the Pirean booth P317 in the expo hall to answer a few short questions and we’ll make a donation on your behalf to Hope for the Warriors, St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Habitat for Humanity. The results of the survey, along with people’s chosen charities are displayed real-time on the displays at the Pirean booth, plus as soon as your answers are submitted you’ll be able to watch them update!

Day 1 General Session Defines Business Without LimitsWith instrument-like beats, opening act Naturally 7 and the story of healthcare company
Wellpoint set the tone for the Pulse 2012 Day 1 general session. Vice President of Infrastructure George Zaruba described the bold steps they have taken to optimize their business relationships,
services and processes using their infrastructure to competitive advantage. Host Scott Hebner then took the stage, welcoming the crowd of 8000 to Pulse and encouraging
them take advantage of “opportunity highway” available to help IT drive business transformation. Speeding the delivery of innovation while managing risk and cost,
he said, requires visibility, control, and automation. "You’ll need to see in real time how your business is operating, as you cannot control what you cannot
see--and you cannot automate what you don’t control. And if you cannot automate, costs skyrocket and innovation stagnates." Next, Robert LeBlanc addressed the
changes and challenges of a smarter planet, articulating why we are seeing such rapid growth in Cloud, Smarter Physical Infrastructure, Enterprise Mobility and Security
Intelligence. He emphasized the need for dexterity around customer relations, understanding clients and giving them what they need to drive value and transform the economics
of innovation, speed service delivery and optimize agility. He also described how IBM is investing to ensure proper visibility, control and automation across this highly dynamic environment,
enabling organizations to better see and understand their business in real time, transform while controlling risk and become more efficient, cost effective and agile.

After an impressive rendition of "In the Air Tonight" by Naturally 7, Danny Sabbah described how the convergence of mobility,
embedded intelligence, and ever increasing security threats, along with increasing requirements for standardization and automation, are driving us to a new technology model: cloud computing.
He described cloud as a “convenient way to normalize your infrastructure and have much greater
visibility, control and automation, which makes it easier to tie investments directly to business outcomes.” and provided evidence by successes at the Australian Open.
(watch the video), Citi and True Value.
But all cloud implementations are not equal. Successful cloud implementations, he noted, are resilient, with integrated and embedded security intelligence, choice and flexibility in hybrid environments, enterprise-class, workload-aware optimization, and built-in analytics.
He then outlined some of the transformations IBM is making to help clients achieve visibility, control and automation, including the SmartCloud Foundation, Endpoint Management for Mobile Devices,
and acquisitions of Worklight and Q1 Labs, plus two new additions you can take part in at Pulse:

A new Tivoli User Community site that provides information and opportunities for feedback and collaboration is available in the Tivoli User Community Lounge in the Solution Expo.

Stream KeynotesCloud and Data Center OptimizationIn this session, moderator Mike Hill described how Cloud enables innovation while managing change and complexity, enabling businesses to build new relationships with clients and create business value.
Clients Ryan Kean, Director of Enterprise Platform Tech Services for The Kroger Company and Doug Rommel, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for American Greetings, described
how they are utilizing cloud to remain competitive, reduce costs, and obtain the business transformation needed to evolve IT. IBM leaders Dave Lindquist, IBM Fellow & Tivoli Vice President;
Paul Loftus, GM of Cloud Managed Services for GTS; and Marie Wieck, GM of IBM AIM described benefits of IBM’s cloud technologies that provide continuous application delivery, workload awareness,
hybrid integration and management, and orchestration across a standards-based infrastructure. The audience was encouraged to take part in the wide array of cloud activities at Pulse, including
more than 50 sessions and 15 demos that feature cloud, plus BOFs, Meet the Experts, and Expo Theater sessions.

Smarter Physical InfrastructureGeorge Ahn, VP of IBM Enterprise Asset Management, hosted over 2000 people with a full dose of humor. He noted that companies are looking for return on assets
and with limited resources, it is about how we deploy them, which can be greatly improved by the use of IBM EAM products. David Kontra of General Electric highlighted how they incorporated
the IBM TRIRIGA product almost 10 years ago and how it has helped them to manage their properties and leases all around the world. Their new focus is "Leveraging technology to drive cost-effective
execution, enhanced employee experience and productivity through innovative workspace solutions," which is more manageable thanks to IBM TRIRIGA products. Ken Bodine from Michelin explained the benefits of EAM to their corporation. Previously, each plant had their own operations with no way to globally track business needs. By standardizing, they have improved safety, improved products and lowered costs.
Finally, Rick Nicholson, Group Vice President, IDC Energy Insights took the audience through a series of Smarter Physical Infrastructure mega-trends encompassing everything from what it means to be "smart"
(intelligent devices, pervasive broadband networks, big data/analytics/social media/cloud services) to how asset and facility management play a vital role across multiple industries.

MobilityForrester Analyst Christian Kane described how IT managers must proactively embrace new technologies that benefit their business. Bob Sutor, Kevin Cavanaugh and Wing To outlined how IBM Enterprise Mobile Platform helps to build, connect, and run back-end systems in support of mobile applications. They discussed the major issue many businesses face with employees owning their own devices and how to maintain system security on the devices.
The platform helps manage and secure devices and provides new ways to transform your business while creating new opportunities through visibility, control and automation over all devices.

SecurityBrendan Hannigan, GM Security Solutions, and Sandy Bird, CTO of the IBM Security Systems Division (and co-founder of Q1 Labs), outlined how
IT is at a crossroads, with organizations facing a threat landscape that is increasingly complex and that requires a fundamentally different approach to security.
Clients want an integrated view of security and existing point products are not meeting their needs. IBM’s industry-leading security Intelligence solutions with real-time processing and predictive analytics capabilities
help tackle difficult security challenges such as insider threat and advanced persistent threat. Critical controls are becoming more optimized and integrated across key security
domains such as identity management, application security, and advanced network security.
IBM has committed major resources to and organized around helping to comprise a broad, integrated framework of products and solutions to help organizations meet
current and emerging threats.

Service Assurance for Service Providers
Moderator Peter Bews from Rogers Communications hosted an open panel discussion. He was joined on the stage by Martijin van Zoeren of Dutch Cloud BV, Frank Gillett of Forrester Research, Craig Farrell of
IBM Communications Sector, and Giovanni Lanfranchi and Denis Kennelly of IBM Tivoli. Panelists discussed the unique challenges service providers face, including how to deal with today’s financial challenges,
how to deliver innovative new services on an aggressive schedule, how to differentiate themselves based on quality of service, and the potential benefits delivering services on a cloud infrastructure.

Cloud ToursTake a tour of the cloud solutions you are hearing about at Pulse! Register now for an IBM SmartCloud guided tour. You will be guided through six pre-selected demonstrations that cover key cloud technologies at IBM.
Tour experts will also be available to answer questions and give pointers on the technologies you are interested in. Experience the capabilities that IBM can deliver and learn how IBM can help you
successfully implement cloud. Sign up for your tour at the IBM Information Desk near the IBM SmartCloud Zone in the Solution Expo.

In the Expo: Livestream StageThe Livestream Stage was bustling with activity. Steve Mills recognized IBM Champions, Bob Picciano provided his views of Monday's events,
Wing To, Bob Sutor, Kristof Kloeckner and more provided their insights. Watch them now on the Pulse website.
Also at the Livestream stage, two hundred people who earned tickets by “taking their Social Pulse” were treated to an I Scream Social,
redeeming the tickets for ice cream bars today at the Livestream Stage in the Solution Expo. The Social Pulse Team will be doing it again tomorrow at 3:30,
so stop by a Pulse Social Bar today, take your Social Pulse and get your ticket for ice cream! See the pictures on Facebook.

Complete Your Conference Evaluation for a Free T-Shirt
Pulse 2012 wants your feedback! Complete your overall conference evaluation on the Pulse
SmartSite. Once you have completed the evaluation, stop by the Registration Desk and pick up
your complimentary T-shirt! Available to IBM clients and IBM Business Partners only, beginning
this afternoon.

Find More and Contribute to the Conversation:

Hear a Meet the Experts session where Don Cronin, Program Director Tivoli Technical Strategy, and Mike Kaczmarski, IBM Fellow and Tivoli Technical Architect on the Interoperability Center discuss it in detail.

Today's Twitter topic of the day is: Life without cloud would be like ___________. Join in at #ibmpulse

Our favorite comment from yesterday's Twitter topic: If you had to, how would you define instrumented endpoints to a 5th grader? @tomhawesome tweeted @ibmPulse Jimmy, your mom can now see how much time you spend playing angrybirds.. and homework all from her phone.

Tivoli User Community members: Social Media 101 is available for Tivoli User Community (TUC) Members in the Solution Expo from 3-3:30 p.m.

Get ready for Wednesday's special guest speaker. Tweet your questions with #askwoz and they might be answered in Wednesday's general session!

Welcome to Pulse 2012! 8,000 attendees from around the globe are here to learn how they can change the economics of IT and speed the delivery of innovative products and services.
The theme of this year's Pulse is "Business without Limits" and with hundreds of sessions including topics from cloud, mobility, smarter physical infrastructure and security, your options at Pulse are nearly limitless too!
Check the Pulse SmartSite to search for sessions on the subjects that matter to you and watch the Pulse website for the latest resources from Pulse, including live video of the event, the current Livestream schedule, a video library, picture gallery, and keynote slides.

Sunday Highlights

Danny Sabbah opened the Pulse 2012 Solution Expo opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony, which officially kicked off Pulse 2012.
It was a full house at the Solution Expo, which features the newest technology and next-generation solutions from IBM and IBM Business Partners.
Visit the Pulse 2012 Sponsors, including Diamond Sponsors Toshiba and
Trend Micro, in the Expo today!
The Solution Expo will be open from 12- 7 p.m. on Monday, 12 - 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and 12 - 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

While many of us were settling in to Pulse,
IBM Business Partners were taking in a full day of strategy sessions!
Hosted by Ernest Jones
and sponsored by Arrow ECS, Gemini Systems, and Innovise ESM,
the Tivoli Business Partner Summit featured a wealth of advice on how to embody this year's theme of Be Bold. Be Tivoli. Be Limitless.
Ernest was followed by Brendan Hannigan, GM of the IBM Security Division, and
Jamie Thomas, VP of Tivoli Strategy and Development, who shared product roadmaps and her perspectives on the Tivoli marketplace. Tivoli General Manager Danny Sabbah shared insights, Mark Register hosted an interactive panel of partners and clients, and Lou Attanasio described
the keys to "Excelling at Selling." They were joined by special guest speaker
Alison Levine overcame a life-threatening heart condition to become the first American woman to accomplish the Adventure Grand Slam
(successfully climbing all seven summits and reached the North and South Pole). Alison inspired the crowd on how they, too, can become limitless through leadership, teamwork, innovation, and dealing with change.
Partners also had a choice of six breakout sessions. IBM Business Partners can find the presentations for those breakouts on the PartnerWorld Tivoli Knowledge Center.

A highlight of the Business Partner Summit each year is the Tivoli Business Partner Awards. Congratulations to this year's winners:

The Pulse International Connection Reception provided a fun and festive event for Pulse attendees from 79 countries.
Host Joao Perez greeted the entusiastic crowd and shared the top five countries most represented at Pulse outside of the US: Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Australia. Overall, 34% of all Pulse attendees are from outside the United States.

Hands-on Labs and Certification Testing also opened Sunday.
With more labs this year than ever, participants took part in exercises about a wide variety of IBM software products. Lab titles are listed in your pocket agenda and full lab descriptions are available
here and in the Pulse SmartSite.
For Certification testing, the choices are nearly unlimited: you can take any of the certification tests IBM offers right here at Pulse!
The Hands-on Labs and Certification rooms are located in the Studio Ballrooms A and B, near the Grand Garden Arena entrance. Follow the signs to take part in these valuable opportunities.

Win an Apple iPod Touch!For each session you attend while at Pulse, you will find a session survey on the Pulse SmartSite.
Submit your session surveys for a chance to win. Each day there will be a drawing, and the
winner receives an Apple iPod Touch, sponsored by Alliance Tech, Inc. Each survey submitted
is an entry to win, so complete your surveys today!

Pirean are internationally acclaimed experts in the consultancy, implementation, enhancement and support of IBM Tivoli Software. The World's most accredited Tivoli partner for 2010 and 2011, Pirean’s unrivalled Software and Services portfolio guarantees to deliver first-class Security and IT Service Management Solutions for high-performing organizations globally. (Booth P317)

PowerPlan is an enterprise software company providing asset-centric accounting, tax and budgeting solutions. Companies leverage PowerPlan and Maximo to help generate cash, mitigate compliance risk and enable a cost management culture. The world’s most demanding asset-intensive companies trust PowerPlan to manage over $2 Trillion in assets. For more information visit www.powerplan.com (Booth P318)

The above 19 countries were not in attendance at Pulse 2011 but are here now! We are thrilled to welcome them and the rest of the international attendees, that make up over one-third of our total audience of 8000 that have traveled from 79 countries worldwide!!!

Please join us in the North Pavilion at the MGM Grand Hotel at 4:30 pm today for the International Connection Reception, hosted by Joao Perez, Vice President of Sales, IBM Security.

*** I would like to extend a big thanks to my colleagues on the Smarter Industries team for providing all the guest blogs on Smarter Industries at Pulse 2012 ***

Smart Financial Service Industries are creating a customer-focused enterprise and streamlining operations while regulating risk and compliance. At Pulse 2012, learn how to fundamentally and cost-effectively change the economics of IT and speed the delivery of innovative products and services.

Speaker sessions confirmed for Pulse include presentations from CitiBank, Bank of China and Banco do Brasil. At Pulse 2012, you will gain insights in the most critical banking and financial services industry topics, including:

Building an enterprise grade cloud and discussions in application performance management

Pulse 2012 will also feature the latest technology initiatives and next-generation solutions offered by IBM and our business partners, where clients can experience demonstrations addressing important topics for banking and financial service organizations like Lease Accounting for Assets and Facilities, Endpoint Management for Automation & Cloud, Effective Governance for Identity and Access Management and Virtualization Security Solutions.

We look forward to seeing you at Pulse next week! Register Now before online registration closes on Thursday, and save $200 off onsite registration.

Today's smart travel and transportation service providers are using insights drawn from smarter data in real time to improve traveler experience, increase the agility of customer sales and service systems, maximize the availability of assets and infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact and assure safety and security with less cost and impact on customers. Pulse 2012 explores all these issues and more.

IBM Maximo for Transportation demonstration that will show how Maximo for Transportation helps address regulatory requirements with best practices to extend asset life, optimize parts management, reduce road calls, and increase planned maintenance - for fleet trucking, marine, aircraft, rail, and public transportation.

IBM Maximo for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager demonstration that showcases how standardizing HSE, compliance and quality practices reduces overall risk to employees, communities, stakeholders, and the environment.
Lease Accounting for Assets and Facilities demonstration that helps accelerate preparedness for the new lease accounting standards, on a single platform.

IBM TRIRIGA® delivers advanced analytics and financial controls to achieve compliance with the new lease accounting rules that expects to add an average of $1 billion in new assets to the balance sheets of large companies.

Analytics for Integrated Service Management demonstration that will showcase how service providers can leverage predictive analytics and what-if analysis to prevent service failures and predict business outcomes.

Browse all sessions planned for Travel and Transportation at Pulse 2012 and create a sample agenda.

The Pulse blog is pleased to present today's guest blog by Kristof Kloeckner, General Manager of Rational Software, IBM Software Group

Based on discussions and interactions with clients, a common theme has emerged - the gap between development and operations groups (people, processes and technologies). This gap diminishes business agility, the ability to respond to market demands quickly with new applications or solutions. It can also lead to quality problems with deployed applications resulting in higher costs, service disruption and service quality issues. Some of the root causes for these challenges are:

Lack of visibility across the teams hinders collaboration and causes inconsistent manual handoffs as well as configuration and infrastructure mismatches

Deployment requirements are difficult to validate and it is tough to mimic production in dev and test environments

Moving applications from development to staging to production is a complex series of steps. Deployment engineers often execute manual steps which are not repeatable, and prone to error

It is extremely difficult to integrate and automate these processes, as well as standardize maintenance and reuse given the heterogeneous nature of the environment with products from different vendors and open source tools.

Together Rational and Tivoli have been working with customers to address some of these challenges and we have introduced capabilities which include; Collaborative Lifecycle Management (CLM) for Agile development and delivery, Deployment Planning and Automation (DP&A) for constructing deployment topologies and deployment automation and SmartCloud Provisioning for quickcloud deployment and automated provisioning.

By way of example, Danske Bank deployed these capabilities and reduced their average time of development projects from 14 months to 9 months while improving efficiency by 15%. Through automation, Sun Trust improved hand-off times by 98% while cutting deployment related issues by 93 %. And a leading tire manufacturer moved to agile processes and accelerated their development models by 30%

Based on these and other deployment scenarios, we are now working with a few select clients on a more integrated lifecycle management solution for Continuous Delivery, which we plan to make it available to a wider set of customers as part of a managed beta program in April. What does it mean to have continuous delivery? It means that the applications built by our clients are production-ready throughout the lifecycle and can be released to end users at any time, reducing the cycle times significantly. These capabilities are built leveraging open standards, enabling clients to leverage existing investments and the cloud. Some of the capabilities planned for the beta include:

We believe that these capabilities will help provide you with end-to-end feedback loop from your customers, from development, to operations, rapid release of new versions, increased velocity of change while reducing risk, leverage real-time planning, enable in-context collaboration, ensure lifecycle traceability and apply development and operational intelligence.

My Rational colleagues and I will be discussing these customer patterns and the solutions in more detail at Pulse. Looking forward to the discussion!

With showtime less than two weeks away, I am getting a lot of questions about Pulse, and what we will be streaming over the internet from the conference. So for today's blog, I'll do my best summarize the highlights and where to get more information for your viewing pleasure.

In a nutshell, we are streaming all three days of general sessions as well as the stream keynotes on the Pulse website. We will also stream exclusive interviews with key presenters, including Steve Mills, Manoj Saxena, Jamie Thomas, Marie Wieck and others. You definitely don't want to miss day three when Grady Booch interviews Steve Wozniak in the general session, which . . .

Over the next two weeks, while we complete the rest of the Pulse Livestream schedule, think of what you want to ask co-founder of Apple Computer, Steve Wozniak so you're ready on Wednesday March 7. Do not tweet your question before the live Q&A session kicks off from Pulse. Do make sure to follow @ibmpulse so you can join the conversation during Livestream events and all throughout the week.

As I mentioned, this schedule is not complete and any of it subject to change.

Today's healthcare providers and payers are building sustainable healthcare systems, while collaborating to improve quality, outcomes and personalized care and increasing consumer value and access. Join us at Pulse 2012, a premiere IBM Service Management event, from March 4-7 in Las Vegas, to explore these issues and learn how IBM solutions are helping healthcare providers and payers achieve business without limits to address important topics like new service delivery models such as Cloud, physical and digital convergence in facilities management, demands from the growth of mobility, and managing and securing data.

Over 300 client-driven speaker sessions are confirmed for Pulse including presentations from The Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Utah, and WellPoint. Pulse will help you learn how to fundamentally and cost-effectively change the economics of IT and speed the delivery of innovative products and services by building skills and gaining insights in critical healthcare topics, including:

Smarter Hospitals and Healthcare

Effective Compliance Management

Operational Excellence through Asset Reliability

Pulse 2012 will also be featuring the latest technology initiatives and next-generation solutions offered by IBM and our business partners, where clients can experience demonstrations addressing important topics for healthcare providers like Smarter Hospitals, Maximo Mobile Suite, and Delivering Effective Governance for Identity and Access Management.

More than 7,000 attendees will take part in Pulse 2012. Register now to secure your space at http://ibm.com/pulse

We look forward to seeing you at Pulse 2012!

Keep visiting our blog ibm.com/blogs/pulse for more updates. And for more information on our energy and utilities industry solutions, visit ibm.co/zaCzh0

IBM has never been a wall flower in the business of making history. Just Google "IBM Centennial" if you have already forgotten the 2011 celebration that highlighted some of our greatest moments in leadership and invention. But this year at Pulse, YOU have the opportunity to literally help make history. Not just IBM history but the history of humanity.

Today's Pulse blog is a call to action from Jan and Grady Booch. Grady, as you may have heard, will interview the legendary co-founder of Apple, philanthropist and Dancing with the Stars alumnus, Steve Wozniak during the Pulse Day 3 general session. What you might not have heard is what else Grady is up to at Pulse.

Grady is working on a new documentary project to study how computing has changed humanity. As with any documentary or scientific study, one needs data. Loads of it. During Pulse, Grady will be onsite collecting data for this project. Grady's goals for this project include capturing over 2000 video interviews of people sharing their personal stories of how computing has changed their lives.
The project is called Computing: The Human Experience.

I asked the Booch’s to give me a quick summary of the project to extend an invitation for your participation and this is what they shared with me.

***************************************************************

Why Is Computing Important?

Because the story of computing is the story of humanity. Computing is a story of ambition, passion, invention, creativity, vision, avarice, and serendipity, powered by a refusal to accept the limits of our bodies and our minds. From the abacus to the iPad, from Gutenberg to Google, from Enigma to GPS, we have created computers to count the uncountable, remember beyond our own experiences, and see the invisible as well as the unforeseeable. In just one or two generations – an imperceptible time in the timeless sweep of the universe – we have created a technology that has the power to extend us, to transform us, to define us, perhaps even to destroy us.

As a part of this project Grady has created a YouTube channel
and he would love to have you share the story of your human experience with computing. Computing: The Human Experience will have a video booth for you to record your 2-3 minute story. And we will post many of them on Computing's YouTube channel.

Some ideas to get you started:

How has computing changed who you are?

What is your first memory or experience of computing?

What are your hopes for your children in this digital world we live in?

Come be a part of telling the world that computing is more than machines and software - it is about people!

Smart communications clients are transforming operations to achieve new levels of business and service excellence while being asked to build out smarter networks at the same time. Join us at Pulse 2012, and explore the keys to innovation and agility with a robust service delivery platform. At Pulse you will hear how effective network and service assurance enables control of the entire communication and content management infrastructure, and the strategies for next-generation service quality and delivery.

Speaker sessions confirmed for Pulse include presentations from Bharti Airtel, Dutch Cloud, IMImobile, Rogers Communications, TIM Brazil and U.S. Cellular. Pulse 2012 will help clients learn how to speed the delivery of innovative products and services, and change the economics of your operations by building skills and gaining further insight in important communications topics, including cloud as a platform for new services, building smarter networks, how advanced visibility, control and automation drive smarter operations, as well as Service Provider trends and directions.

Pulse 2012 will also be featuring the latest technology initiatives and next-generation solutions offered by IBM and our business partners, where clients can experience demonstrations addressing important topics for communications providers like Smarter Networks and LTE, Intelligent Site Operations for Smarter Networks and Managing the Network in Today’s Mobile World.

The Pulse blog is pleased to present today's guest blog by Danny Sabbah, General Manager of Tivoli Software, IBM Software Group

Pulse 2012 is fast approaching, and this year we’ve evolved the conference to focus more on education, information exchange and interaction – which is what you’ve asked us to do.
Pulse will feature IBM experts and industry leaders across three general sessions and over 400+ breakout sessions across our four streams - 75% of which are lead by your peers! Not to mention plenty of networking opportunities with your peers at the Executive Summit, Business Partner summit, and receptions.

Pulse provides a unique opportunity for you to learn more about the capabilities you need to transform IT economics and speed service delivery, including strategies and actions to help gain value from cloud computing, mobility, security, and smarter physical infrastructures. While on the surface these sound like buzz words, I’m certain that we have the depth and best practices for you to successfully implement these initiatives in your organization and tie them to real business outcomes.

In addition, within the Solution Expo we are introducing an Interoperability Center. We added the Center, based upon your feedback, to demonstrate IBM’s open platform for integrating service delivery across IBM, partner and third-party solutions. The demonstrations will be in the context of real business scenarios, including: cloud, smarter buildings, continuous development, and more.

Pulse is focused on achieving “Business without Limits”, and the curriculum and networking events are designed to provide you with the ideas, actions, and best practices to deliver on the three business imperatives:

Better focus from technology investment on business outcomes

Streamline execution to reduce unnecessary cost and risk

React with speed and agility to shifting competitive landscapes

So on behalf of IBM and our Business Partners, I hope you accept the challenge to attend Pulse and take away actions to drive business impact for your organization. It’s a 3 day education and networking opportunity that you will not want to miss!

Governments are facing increased challenges from budget constraints and lack of resources while service to citizens becomes more demanding. Pulse 2012will explore these issues and more, to help attendees learn how to optimize government infrastructure and deliver ultimate business value to citizens.

Pulse 2012attendees will hear from diverse clients like City of Cambridge, Boston College, Tulane University, City of Dubuque and NC State University who will discuss today's government challenges, on topics ranging from leadership and innovation in smarter cities, to managing assets in a regulatory environment and moving to the Cloud to achieve significant benefits.

Pulse 2012will also be featuring the newest technology initiatives and next-generation solutions offered by IBM and our business partners, including:

IBM Solutions for Smarter Cities demonstration which will show how IBM’s solutions can help improve city operations and incident response, reduce crime and traffic congestion, increase worker productivity and reduce water consumption.

IBM's Smarter Buildings demonstration which focuses on IBM Intelligent Building Management. The solution provides key analytics through a consolidated, role-based view of data in two key areas — energy and facilities management — helping building owners, operators and managers increase building management effectiveness and energy efficiency, with lower operating costs.

With the emergence of the technologies that make smart grids possible, customers have new levels of information and control. At Pulse 2012 you will hear how utilities are managing their smart grid from a comprehensive, cross departmental perspective, that spans from pro-active maintenance, to modern IT enabled networks, to security and beyond!

At Pulse 2012 hear from 35+ IBM Energy and Utilities clients on topics as diverse as regulatory requirements, asset management for utility operations, smart grid infrastructure and supply chain lifecycle activities. Pulse 2012 will also be featuring the latest technology initiatives and next-generation solutions offered by IBM and our business partners, including:

Smarter Energy demonstrations that show how IBM can help utilities manage intelligent meter networks, mitigate security risk, and comply with regulatory and operational mandates using visibility, control and automation capabilities from IBM.

IBM Maximo Spatial demonstration is focused on the core utility lines of business: distribution, transmission, fossil/hydro generation and nuclear power including meter asset management and will show the spatial enablement of Maximo Asset Management with ESRI's ArcGIS Server.

Cloud keynotes and breakout sessions at Pulse will reveal that Cloud is significantly downsizing the barriers to new technology applications, making them as equally available to small businesses and individuals as governments and large enterprises.

From the end user perspective, nobody knows how Cloud does this.

And that is the point.

Cloud provides the end user a simple and elegant interface to a vast IT infrastructure. Understanding its complexity is not required in order to realize its financial benefits. Possibly the most impacting benefit of cloud applications is enabling organizations to expand investment in delivering new services instead of just maintaining the existing infrastructure.

Pulse 2012 is your gateway to discover cutting edge industry specific solutions bringing together industry experts from different part of the world to provide you insights on current business scenarios and help you identify valuable industry solutions for your business: government, telecommunications, energy & utilities, healthcare, retail, banking, insurance, travel & transportation, manufacturing and chemicals & petroleum.

At Pulse, you will also find industry specific demonstrations that illustrate the broad business value of IBM industry solutions. And you can experience industry round tables where you gain an opportunity to meet peers for discussion and an exchange of views. Hosted by IBM client executives, industry round tables are a great way to share best practices and industry challenges and solutions, to offer valuable knowledge and practical advice on the topics and solutions that matters most to you and your Industry.

Your infrastructure is already expanding, whether you like it or not. The question is: will you have the ability to see it, control it and automate it across cloud, smart physical infrastructure, enterprise mobility and data analytics?

Attend the Day 1 Opening General Session and find out how to gain the Visibility, Control and Automation you need to achieve “Business without Limits.” You’ll hear from customers who are already starting to achieve Business without Limits. IBM Tivoli General Manager, Danny Sabbah, and Robert LeBlanc, who heads up IBM’s Software Middleware Group, will also be sharing their insights and vision. Also featured will be performances by the highly acclaimed revolutionary a cappella group, Naturally 7!

DAY TWO, March 6, 2012

The destination is “Business without Limits.” But how do you get there? Attend the Day 2 General Session for an in-depth look at Visibility, Control and Automation in action! A panel of IBM customers will share what they’ve learned on the journey to achieving Visibility, Control and Automation across their entire infrastructure. IBM Tivoli’s VP of Strategy and Development, Jamie Thomas, and VP of Open Standards, Angel Diaz, will outline a “roadmap” for optimizing your infrastructure. You’ll also hear about IBM’s broader roadmap around Smarter Computing, from IBM Senior VP and Group Executive Software Group, Steve Mills. And you won’t want to miss featured performers, “America’s Got Talent” finalists, illuminate!

DAY THREE, March 7, 2012

What innovations in analytics and computing technology will the future bring? Join us for the Day 3 General Session and you’ll get an exciting glimpse into the innovations of the future. Find out how the advanced analytics used in Watson are being put to work in businesses around the world. Discover what the data center of the future will look like, in the year 2020 and beyond. Finally, you won’t want to miss our featured guest speaker, co-founder of Apple Computer and Innovator, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Steve Wozniak!

When people ask me what Tivoli does or what is service management, my first impulse is to launch into this:

IBM Service Management represents an evolutionary leap forward in managing services. IBM Service Management provides the integrated Visibility, Control and Automation™ that you need across business and technology assets to help overcome roadblocks to innovation. It enables you to better achieve your business objectives and maximize the value from all of the assets that support your operation.

But its even easier than that. We do what any good business must: save customers time and money, while enabling them to delight their own customers. For instance, the gecko and the hairdo keep telling you every day of your life how easy it is to save with them. What they don't tell you is that those savings would be impossible without loads of data housed in systems run on software that organizes chaos to help make business sense. That's what we do. Of course, there is a lot more to the story and we hope you'll come to Pulse for the rest.

Here's a little something to dance in your head while you score holiday gifts online this season:

At Pulse, we're going to showcase what we do best. We're also going to bring brand new solutions, roadmaps for forthcoming development, sessions with domain experts and real human clients, and solution demos that show you how to save money and keep customers coming back to you.

We'll have some fun too. I'll tell you more about that later.

Pulse 2012 is March 4-7 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Early Bird registrationcan save you up to $700 but the offer expires on December 16.

Though you may still be in a Tryptophan cloud, you can get a Cyber Monday deal on IBM Cloud stuff by registering for Pulse today! Don't wait until March 4, and don't even wait until December 16 (when this offer is over for good). Do these three minute steps right now save an extra $700 on your Cyber Monday savings adventure!

And any other awesome firm that is willing to collaborate with IBM by showcasing your business and technology leadership at Pulse.

The benefits are simple, but long reaching. We estimate over 7000 people will pass through the Pulse Expo. And with them, limitless opportunities to progress and develop leads in an environment super charged with the brightest talent, sharpest skill and most focused energy in the industry. If you were there last year, you know what I am talking about and are probably already committed to a Pulse 2012 sponsorship.

Although half of the sponsorship opportunities are still available as of today, they are being scooped up faster than previous years. Friends, now is the time to lock in your Pulse 2012 Expo Sponsorship. Book before December 16 and save a hefty $5K, unless you are a Pulse 2011 Sponsor Alumnus, then you save $10K. These are going fast, and it's no wonder. Just don't say I didn't tell you about it.

Withtwo weeks this weekend (edited 11/4/11) to pull your Pulse 2012 session proposal together, we thought it might be helpful to share some examples of abstracts from accepted proposals from last year. Keep in mind that this year's theme is Business Without Limits and we are seeking to understand how you gained visibility, control and automation to deliver better business outcomes. Scott Hebner talks a bit about our plans for Pulse 2012 in this video invitation, but let us know @ibmPulse if you have any questions. Don't forget to register during early bird registration by December 16 if you do not plan to speak at Pulse and attend the conference complimentary. Early Bird registration can save you up to $700 off registering onsite.

Session abstract: In 2010, Citi embarked on a project to create a cloud computing environment for its global application development organizations. This presentation by the executive responsible for the development project provides insights to Citi's experiences in the areas of defining the business problem being solved, defining user requirements, technology and product selections, and challenges experienced in getting the cloud into production in late 2010.

Session title: How Aetna Achieved Major Savings in Storage Management with Tivoli Storage Productivity Center 4.2 -- WIth an Update on TPC Future Directions from IBM

Session abstract: Come to this session to hear how Aetna achieved a fifty percent reduction in the time needed to manage their storage environment by upgrading to Tivoli Storage Productivity Center (TPC) 4.2. This savings was achieved through a combination of deploying TPC's storage resource agent technology, reducing problem determination time through TPC's enhanced topology views, and accelerating decision-making as a result of improved data availability, quality and accuracy provided by TPC. Thanks to these improvements, Aetna was able to reassign several full-time employees to new strategic initiatives. In addition, this session will give a preview of IBM's strategy and future plans for Tivoli Storage Productivity Center.

Session title: How Tata Consulting Helps Drive Efficiency Gains with Maximo at an International Paint Company

Session abstract: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is a leading global IT services organization and an IBM Premier Business Partner. TCS IBM-certified experts provide full service consulting and implementation of IBMs Maximo and Tivoli suite. TCS has several success stories in deployment of Asset Management solutions. One such implementation was for a leading global industrial paints manufacturer, for which TCS integrated multiple versions to a single global instance of Maximo 6. It was deployed over 20 sites, and made available in various languages supporting multiple operations including Maximo Mobile Inventory Manager. Complex workflows were configured for purchase order and work order approvals, which in turn called functions to automatically print and email the approved records. The system was integrated with multiple enterprise systems in various operating units like Oracle Apps, APPX & SCADA. The solution resulted in high system availability, less failures and improved stability.

Session abstract: Upgrading mission-critical software that runs a 24x7 distributed scheduling operation in a large enterprise, with thousands of endpoints, is a daunting task. This presentation will highlight some of the challenges that were overcome in order to upgrade the MetLife job scheduling environment from a legacy Tivoli Workload Scheduler (TWS) 8.2.1 infrastructure to a modern TWS 8.4 infrastructure, while minimizing risk and avoiding downtime. Fix Pack 5 fixes/enhancements will also be covered in this presentation.

Additional Guidelines

Proposals will include a 100-word abstract that outlines a unique organizational experience based on, but not limited to, one of the following scenarios:

Service availability and performance; advancements in increasing service availability and quality including visibility of services and the networks, systems and applications supporting them

Service provider networks and services; how you leveraged IBM solutions to deploy and manage new next generation services (4G, cloud)
Stories about innovation and transformation; including smart buildings, smart grid, smart healthcare; and how IBM helped your organization deliver new types of products and services

Service delivery: Discuss how IBM solutions helped you achieve greater levels of collaboration across development and operations; how automation has helped you achieve greater levels of agility

Security, risk and compliance; how your organization has improved its security, risk or compliance posture with automated threat, identity, access and security controls.

Industry-specific implementations that explore how your organization implemented an industry-tailored service architecture and how this played a role in innovation and/or service delivery

Virtualization: discuss your solutions for provisioning, scheduling, storage and optimization of hybrid, virtualized environments and their impact on efficiency and cost-savings

Today's Pulse blog is submitted by David Boye, IBM Program Manager for Tivoli Storage.

Interested in sharing your story about IBM's storage solutions at Pulse this year? The Pulse 2012 Call for Papers is in full swing! We encourage you to speak about how your storage management solutions help you maximize and protect information. Your session can address best practices or your companies' implementation story.

Your presentation might also outline insight into trends and dynamics that are shaping your industry. If you choose to follow this approach, describe any background materials you will be using to illustrate your point. Details are good! A thorough description of the best practices, value proposition, or technical aspects you plan to discuss will help us understand and evaluate the proposal.

And if you are interested in participating in a panel discussion related to your area of expertise, make a note of that in your submission.

Speaking at Pulse is a great way to increase your profile among a group of elite professionals and maximize your conference experience. And....clients and Business Partners who present at Pulse are eligible for complimentary admission to the conference (one per company, per session).

Some ideas for your Storage presentation could include:

Storage and Cloud: Discuss the role of storage in the cloud services and how your IBM storage solutions can restore operations quickly following any type of data disaster, while ensuring optimal utilization and performance of storage resources in the Cloud.

Backup and Recovery: Talk about how your company protects data by storing backup copies on offline and offsite storage, and employs multiple smart-data techniques to make data backups.

Business Continuity Service Level Protection: Discuss your requirements and implementation of IBM solutions for high data availability and quick recovery from downtime in order to stay competitive.

Storage Virtualization: Talk about how your company was able to reduce the complexity and costs of managing SAN-based storage environments. Discuss how IBM storage virtualization solutions helped you address this.

As the November 7 deadline to submit Pulse 2012 session proposals approaches, I realize some of you might be waiting for some spark of inspiration to submit your proposal. Here are FIVE reasons to take the stage at Pulse.

5. Raise your profile with a key audience of 7000 influential pros.

You have something to say and we want to listen.

4. Get in free!

Only one speaker per company, per session qualifies for the free speaker pass. We also need to make sure we are allowed to give you a free pass. More information here

3. Hang out VIP style!

Exclusive Client Speaker VIP lounge. Nuff said.

2. You've already done the hard part.

You already solved those nasty problems you worked so hard on. Just submit an abstract of 100 words or less by November 7 for consideration. It should align to one of our tracks. Like this but your own story:

1. Your leadership is in demand.

Pulse is the place where innovative leaders collaborate in an effort to optimize the world's infrastructure. Speak at Pulse and lead the way in solving some of today's most pressing challenges.

The descriptions of our streams and tracks are not yet posted on the website, but you can read about them here, then submit your proposal to any of the following tracks at

http://bit.ly/oaAv2b

Then register for the LIVE#ibmpulse 2012 Webcast 9/28 where you can get all the details on speaking at Pulse, including whether or not you are eligible for a free pass!

Stream 1: Cloud and Smarter, Flexible Infrastructures

Businesses rely on their data center technologies to enable rapid innovation and the agility needed to respond quickly in today's highly competitive environment. Change management, provisioning, monitoring, scheduling and other key IT processes require a robust platform that can deliver services in a variety of ways, including virtualization, cloud computing and other delivery options. This stream will bring together clients, end users, systems integrators, IBM Business Partners and service management experts from across IBM to share best practices, roadmaps, real-world experiences, implementation examples and more.

Track 1: Service Delivery and Process Automation
The ability to quickly transform a business requirement into a business service is fundamental to the success of today's organizations. This track focuses on how IBM Tivoli can help create an effective approach to managing service requests, incidents, change and configuration, and provisioning with an integrated set of IT service management solutions. Submit to this track

Track 2: Service Availability and Performance Management
If you're in operations, you understand the pressure to ensure high service availability and performance. This track will illustrate how IBM solutions provide the visibility and control required to manage critical business services in dynamic conditions in ways that are cost-effective and seamless to clients. Presentations will emphasize best practices and implementations – highlighting the use of common integrations, such as navigation, workflows, visualization and reporting.
Submit to this track

Track 3: Storage Management
IBM offers an extraordinary range of systems, storage, software and services based on decades of innovation -- all designed to maximize and protect information, a critical business asset. This track will explore how storage management solutions can address this challenge through a wide range of presentations that include best practices, implementation stories and case studies.
Submit to this track

Track 4: Collaborative Development and Operations
This track covers collaborative development and operations across the lifecycle in the context of service management, focusing on the principles of ITIL and other IT process methodologies. Key topics will include organizational collaboration, application performance, automated deployment and cloud computing. Ideal for architects, developers, process, and operations managers this track will highlight success stories and panels from clients and industry experts on how organizations can accelerate the delivery of high quality applications and services.
Submit to this track

Track 5: Cloud and New Models for Service Delivery

Cloud computing and new delivery models are transforming the client experience and the economics of service delivery. This track will explore how private and public clouds can be securely harnessed – whether you choose to build your own, leverage prepackaged solutions, or have cloud delivered as a service. Sessions will explore how clients can successfully secure, visualize, and ensure the performance of virtualized and hybrid environments.

Track 1: EAM Best Practices
In this track we will discuss and highlight techniques, processes, activities, and or incentives deemed extremely effective in delivering world-class best practices at your organization. Sessions will highlight quantitative and qualitative ROI and Return on Asset (ROA) data such as equipment uptime, inventory carrying costs, labor utilization, regulatory compliance, and maintenance operations.
Submit to this track

Track 2: EAM Implementation and Upgrades
This track will feature customers sharing their implementation or upgrade stories from legacy versions to the latest release including planning, tools and tasks involved, post implementation/upgrade review, and the improvements they have leveraged in architecture, functionality, security, and scalability.
Submit to this track

Track 3: EAM Extended Usage
Sessions in this track are designed to showcase the value of Maximo and TRIRIGA through their functional add-ons. Areas of interest for Maximo may include mobile, scheduling, linear, spatial, asset configuration manager, service provider, service request manager, and HS&E. Areas of interest for TRIRIGA may include request central, workplace reservation manager, strategic facility planning, viewer, application builder, and mobile to name a few.
Submit to this track

Track 4: EAM Technical Sessions
These technical sessions are designed to be co-presented by an IBM subject matter expert and a client or group of users in a panel setting. Areas of interest may include: workflow, reporting, migration, monitoring, archiving, and integration. Clients submitting an abstract will be mapped with the appropriate subject matter expert.
Submit to this track

Track 5: Maximo Utility Working Group (MUWG)
IBM is pleased to announce that the Maximo Utility Working Group (MUWG) agenda will focus on electric, gas, water and wastewater presentations and incorporate the new Maximo Supply Chain Users Group presentations. Waves of change brought by deregulation, globalization and new regulatory requirements have brought new challenges. Share your story on how you are leveraging Maximo to address these issues and other key challenges at your plant.
Submit to this track

Track 6: EAM Industry Case Studies
In this track we would like to hear from a multitude of industries: Energy, Manufacturing, Transportation, Chemicals & Petroleum, Mining, Life Sciences, Telecom, Facilities, Finance, and Public Sector – including State, Local, and Federal Government users, to highlight how you have addressed your industry- specific challenges with TRIRIGA and IBM Maximo Asset Management, more specifically by using one of Maximo’s industry solutions.
Submit to this track

Track 7: Smarter Buildings
This track features IBM solutions for Smarter Buildings that allow building owners and managers to analyze and optimize real estate and facilities operations. IBM solutions for Smarter Buildings help customers create energy, operationally and space efficient buildings and helps them do so in a sustainable manner.
Submit to this track

Track 8: Smarter Cities
This track features IBM Smarter Cities solutions that allow customers to synchronize and analyze efforts among sectors and agencies as they happen, giving decision makers consolidated information that helps them anticipate—rather than just react to—problems so they can manage growth and development in a sustainable way.
Submit to this track

The boundaries of today’s business infrastructures are being extended and sometimes obliterated by the emergence of cloud, mobility, social business, big data and more. Where does your business ecosystem start and end? Whom do you trust and whom do you not? We’ll address these key security and compliance challenges in this track, demonstrating how IBM’s security intelligence solutions can become the enabler of a business without limits.

Track 1: Securing Emerging Technologies
Embracing new technologies, such as virtualization, cloud, and mobile computing, is an important aspect of how organizations stay competitive. However, the same technologies that can accelerate efficiencies can also pose new security challenges. This track will highlight how IBM can help you stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape and at the same time leverage the innovations made possible by emerging technology.
Submit to this track

Track 2: Securing the Infrastructure and Mitigating Threats
A secure infrastructure is not a static infrastructure. Every day, organizations have to face new security challenges, and the most successful organizations will be the ones that can not only react to these new challenges, but also anticipate them. In this track, we’ll review some of the latest threat research and provide insights on how you can mitigate those threats, and optimize your infrastructure at the same time.
Submit to this track

Track 3: Managing Compliance and Audit for a Secure Organization
Regulatory and industry requirements—which are often disconnected or even contradictory—are increasing, making it difficult for enterprises to keep up without draining valuable resources. This track will focus on what it means to effectively manage compliance and audit in a world where the only constant, is constant change. Sessions will feature best practices and user experiences with designing, enforcing and monitoring security policies for users and their activities, information, systems and processes.
Submit to this track

Stream 4: Leveraging Mobility

This track will explore how mobility is playing an increasing role across the enterprise. From standard voice and data services to business critical applications, mobility technologies are becoming critical to business operations. This stream will explore challenges around delivering and managing wireless mobility technologies, highlighting how visibility, control and automation play a vital role in the deployment and adoption of new services.

Track 1: Service Assurance for Communications Service Providers
This stream will explore how effective network and service assurance enables control of the entire communication and content management infrastructure. It will discuss strategies and methods for gaining greater visibility into how key network and application elements impact service quality and delivery. Sessions will highlight best practices and client experiences across service quality management, event and performance management and other OSS/BSS functions.
Submit to this track

Track 2: Cloud Service Providers
Communications service providers (CSPs) around the world are looking for smarter ways of doing business. This track will explore the challenges around the deployment of a cloud services environment. It will feature customers who have expanded their portfolio of offerings to cloud and highlight how CSPs can quickly and cost-effectively create, manage and monetize public and private cloud services.
Submit to this track

Track 3: Mobility and Endpoint Management
This stream will explore how mobility is playing an increasing role across the enterprise – spanning the broad array of mobile devices, endpoints and networks that support enterprise mobility. From hot topics such as endpoint management and security and mobility technologies from Lotus, this track will cover how progressive companies are leveraging technology to enable companies to conduct business in entirely new ways.
Submit to this track

Submit your proposal a line with any of the above tracks at http://bit.ly/oaAv2b

Hi everyone, I wanted to let you know that Pulse 2012 Call for Speakers will open next Monday on September 19. I wanted to give you a heads up to get your ideas flowing and submit your session proposal as soon as you're ready, which you can do at ibm.com/pulse

Also, mark your calendar for the live Q&A webcast on September 28 where you can ask the IBM subject matter experts anything you want to know about presenting at Pulse. Follow @IBMPulsefor details about the webcast and other Pulse updates.

Here is a sneak peek at the Pulse 2012 includes the five major streams, and their respective tracks:

Cloud and Smarter Flexible Infrastructures
These sessions will explore keys to innovation with agility
with a robust service delivery platform that includes change management,
provisioning, monitoring, scheduling, virtualization, cloud computing
and more.

These sessions will address key security and compliance
challenges and demonstrating how IBM security intelligence solutions can
enable secure business amidst the emergence of cloud, mobility, social
business, and big data.

Securing Emerging Technologies

Securing the Infrastructure and Mitigating Threats

Managing Compliance and Audit for a Secure Organization

Managing Mobility
These sessions will explore the expanding role of mobile technologies
across the enterprise, and the vital role of visibility, control and
automation in the deployment and adoption of new services.

Service Assurance for Communications Service Providers

Cloud Service Providers

Mobility and Endpoint Management

Clients and Business Partners selected to deliver a Pulse education
session may be eligible for a complimentary full conference pass valued
at USD $1,995. After legal review of applicable laws, IBM will determine
eligibility for a complimentary pass on an individual basis. Conference
registration includes meals, education sessions, EXPO Solution Center,
and networking events Sunday evening through Wednesday. Travel and
living expenses are not included and will not be reimbursed. The
complimentary pass for delivering an education session at Pulse is
limited to one client or Business Partner per company per session. IBM
will inform individuals of eligible status and provide any additional
required documentation. IBMers are not eligible for a free pass to
Pulse for presenting a session.

And here's a video I think you'll like if you are concerned about things we will address at Pulse.

The Pulse and User Group teams at Tivoli invite you to take advantage of an exclusive opportunity at your local Pulse Comes to You (PCTY) event. When your User Group members attend your local event, we'll reserve a VIP area dedicated for your networking, lunch and meeting space following the event. Or, you can choose a mini-booth to promote your user group and recruit new members.
For more information, contact Hope Ruiz at hruiz@us.ibm.com.

The following videos feature Tivoli User Group members who leveraged PCTY Austin as an opportunity to meet up.

Whether you’ve already taken a spin with IBM, or you’ve been sitting it out waiting for a better partner, take the next step in deepening your understanding of what Integrated Service Management means for a smarter business infrastructure. . . deep in the heart of Texas!

At these events, you will hear how integrated service management from IBM is the way to optimize your infrastructure and manage complexity and risk. It's the way to deliver new, innovative services and dramatically change the economics of service delivery. It's the way to build a smarter planet.

Ready? Here we go . . .

Step One: Register for Houston or Austin or both of these complimentary one-day events.

Step Two: Implement service management solutions and apply best practices suited to enable IT, Line of Business, and C-level roles deliver quality services, manage risk and compliance, optimize business investments and accelerate business growth. Steve Mills can explain how in more detail.

Here’s a brief sample of what you’ll learn about at Pulse Comes to You in Houston and Austin:

Want to learn more before the event? Check out client sessions from Pulse at pulse.vportal.net including:

You might have heard the news today that the Austin City Limits Festival, one of the crown jewels of my hometown’s economy, announced the schedule for the three day September music festival. From Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Wonder to newer favorites Coldplay and Arcade Fire, ACL 2011 will offer the best of the best.

And if the best roadshows always include a gig in Austin, then Pulse Comes to You is no exception. This year, Pulse makes a stop in the Live Music Capital of the World, which has also earned the moniker Silicon Hills for a concentration of diverse technology innovation and the beauty of the Central Texas Hill Country.

Leading the lineup at Pulse Comes to You in Austin is a keynote on Integrated Service Management for a Smarter Planet, followed by four tracks of break out sessions including Managing the Virtual World, Compliance – Protecting the Organization, Optimizing Your IT Investment, and Managing Your Assets. The all day June 9 event at the Westin Domain starts at 8:30 am, includes lunch at noon, and wraps up with a networking reception at 4:00 pm. Register for this free event today.

Sorry there won’t be any Pulse Palooza at PCTY Austin, but they don’t call Austin the Live Music Capital of the World for nothing. Go to the Austin Chronicle and see what’s happening in A-Town after hours!

**Disclaimer**

Not that any of you are going to be tempted to hop up on stage during a PCTY Austin session, snatch the mike from the speaker, and insult them while praising another speaker. . . but if you were, well, we don’t cotton to that around here. Just saying.

Yep, right on the heels of the most fantastic event in the world (This IS the Pulse blog, ok? We do play favorites here. ) comes SXSW where seemingly millions of young, bright twenty-something techies show the world what the future will look like. And I don't mean the future of 20 years where Watson will be in everyone's hospital, library, or favorite consumer brand headquarters. I'm talking about the next 3-9 months. Did you know that you couldn't even "Like" something on Facebook until last April? And how many of you checked in anywhere at Foursquare or Gowalla until June, maybe July 2010?

Anyway, I'm going to make my prediction about which whippersnapper entrepreneur will be crowned prom king or queen of SXSW and it's GroupMe co-founder Jared Hecht. Your first question is no doubt, "Pulse blogger, do you have a crystal ball?" And my answer would be, "No, I have a bug I clearly caught at SXSW yesterday that confined me to my bed today." This is why I have time to blog. I will now share the secret to becoming the darling of SXSW 2011:

Free Food.

Everyone knows that all you have to do to get elected most popular is give away stuff everyone wants. In some circles you might call that earmarking. GroupMe calls it grilled cheese. Here's how it worked: GroupMe set up a mobile kitchen right outside the Austin Convention Center and gave away free grilled cheese sandwiches and soda to those who sported the GroupMe logo which consists of a pound sign + smiley face.

Here's the part where I quote CNN because I am too lazy (and queasy) to describe this social media toddler rising star in my own words:

"GroupMe, which lets users create “private social networks” with their friends over text messages" and "It’s the rage of SXSWi this year, which is saying something considering this place helped launch Twitter and Foursquare. Here’s the gist: Phones can send a single text message to several people, but you can’t “reply all” to those messages as you could on e-mail, Hecht said. Hence, GroupMe – and competitors like Beluga, kik and Fast Society – lets users create “groups” of friends and co-workers who they can chat with over text. Send a message to the group and all of its members get the text, either in the app, where it uses a phone's data plan, or as a standard SMS.
" Get the whole CNN story.

And now you're wondering if I am sick because I indulged in the free sandwich. I did not. It's not that I am above accepting a free meal. But I live with two very small aliens who refuse to eat food unless it is made of cheese: cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese . . . My palate has matured moved on from grilled cheese so I passed, went inside and paid $14 for a shaved turkey sandwich. So no, I am not featuring GroupMe in the Pulse blog because I am "drinking the koolaid" (which will now be referred to here as "eating the grilled cheese"). But I can totally see the value in GroupMe since I can barely text the one person who shares responsibility for my aliens to pick up a quart of milk without misspelling 80% of the words.

Let's check back next year to see how many of you are "eating the grilled cheese."

We already know that theIBM Pulse Conference in Las Vegas highlights how IBM's expertise in analytics, systems management, sensors and security helps to bridge the physical and digital worlds and create new Smarter Planet infrastructures that are interconnected, instrumented, and intelligent. Technologies are being used to make grids, infrastructures, facilities and products more intelligent to save money, improve operations, manage risk, and better manage the use of natural resources. See the press kit that covers some of this material.

After the second and final Pulse general session today, I had a chance to grab a one-on-one interview with Scott Hebner, Vice President of Tivoli Marketing. I asked him a simple question that others have asked me while at the conference. Basically, the question went like this..."Wow, we learned so much in the general sessions the last two days. What are the key bullet points that summarize what I should take away from the Pulse general sessions?"

Here was his elevator summary response, based on my chicken scratch notes:

-----------------------------------

The IBM Smarter Computing strategy focuses on these three things:

1. Achieve business impact with visibility, control, and automation and the investment in technology to optimize smarter management infrastructures 2. Change economics of Information Technology with such things as Cloud computing, workload optimized systems like Watson, and data federation3. Continue to enable innovation now and into the next century

Strategy without execution is hallucination--"Dr. Danny Sabbah"

IBM applies the strategy to client implementation with three key concepts:

Integrating capabilities into open platforms that will enhance integration and consumability

Enabling a variety of delivery models such as cloud computing and integrated appliances

Infusing best practices and standards into this approach, with a special emphasis on industry-specific learnings and needs

IBM provides a demonstration of how customers can make turn all this talk into a reality at the Pulse general session:

The Pulse demo focuses on an airport's need to act quickly during a snowstorm

The solution is to provision an existing IT infrastructure using the cloud.

Software manages power consumption and dynamically responds to the problem and re-allocates services.

Analytics help assess what caused problems and determine what to change.

-----------------------------------

Embedded below you'll find Part 1 of the General Session Day 2. Here are the links for the Pulse 2011 general sessions and other video activities if you'd like to explore more live activity at the conference:

Yesterday, we kicked off the beginning activities of the IBM Pulse Conference, with the IBM Tivoli Business Partner Summit. We also began streaming live interviews directly from Pulse on the IBM Software Livestream channel. See some of the interviews below.

And note that we'll be livestreaming the Pulse keynote general starting around 8 am Pacific Time today. This session includes our keynote speaker, Dean Kamen!

I heard that the folks presenting a Cloud demo at Pulse are running a contest to giveaway an iPad after the Pulse General Session on Tuesday. They would like Pulse attendees to try out the Cloud demo. However, you don't even have to take part in the demo to be eligible. Just bring a business card and drop it in their box near the demo. Here are the deets:

Play a part in the demo "Witness Cloud and Integrated Service Management IN ACTION." Then answer a few simple questions and you could walk away with an iPad!!!

If you are interested in Cloud, you also might add Session #2084 "Integrated Service Management Cloud Simulator Overview" to your agenda. Use the PulseSmartSite to add #2084 to your agenda.

Terms and Conditions

No purchase necessary

Drop your business card off at the Main Tent area if you don't wish to participate in the demo and still be eligible to win

Offer not available to government employees, employees of IBM and its affiliates, and their families, and other ineligible under applicable law.

Offer void where prohibited. IBM reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

Federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the recipient.

By the way, like my new digs? I think I'm gonna like it here, so here's a big ole SHOUT OUT to my good friend Tiffany Winman for her work with Alison Olssen on building my shiny new bloggy home :)

Hmm…what could be better than being at IBM Pulse 2011?Being an IBM customer at Pulse, that’s what!

Want to know why it’s smart to be an IBM customer? Well keep
reading and you’ll discover just a few of the ways IBM is saying THANK YOU to
our immensely valued, extraordinary customers at Pulse 2011.

Pulse VIP Speaker lounge:If you are one of the hundreds of speakers at the event make sure to visit the Speaker Lounge dedicated to our VIPs. After all of the walking you will have done, I
bet you would be interested in plopping down in one of our comfy chairs
dedicated for back and foot massages.All
IBM client speakers are entitled to be pampered by our massage chairs in the
Speaker lounge along with other complimentary amenities. While you’re there, indulge
in some refreshments or just kick back and use your laptop. Trust me, it will
be nice to relax and revitalize from the busy Vegas nightlife and morning sessions
so make sure you take advantage of this opportunity.The VIP Speaker Lounge is in the Conference
center, level 3, room 308 and is open from 10am –6pm, Monday – Wednesday.

Client Hospitality Lounge in the Pulse Expo: Two
words: MARTINI BAR! Save your red tickets for another night (hint: red tickets
are redeemable for beer and wine).Sunday night our IBM client references are welcome to hang out in the
Client Hospitality Lounge and sip on a martini or two, so don’t cash in those
precious red tickets and come...uh…”network” in the lounge.

If martinis are not your thing then we have something even cooler
for you on Monday afternoon, come in the lounge and treat yourself to some ice
cream bars and sodas …no excuses people, you will walk off all of the calories
anyway.
The lounge will also be stocked up with refreshments Tuesday so there will
surely be something to get your taste buds excited.

If you are an IBM customer who
isn’t a reference yet don’t fret, come fill out a quick form in the lounge and
you will be all set to partake in the goodies. Not only will you be eligible for
the martinis and ice cream, you will also get a cash voucher to spend in the
IBM logo store, just for answering a few questions.The Client Hospitality Lounge is open during
ALL Pulse Expo hours, so I hope to see you there!

`

IBM Client Connections: Ever wonder how other companies
are using IBM offerings to achieve incredible business results?Why not ask one in person? Take advantage of
the IBM Client Connections program by selecting a solution that interests you
and then picking from a list of our lighthouse clients. An IBMer will arrange a
30 minute session for you and that client during the Pulse Conference and you
can brainstorm, get advice and problem solve, or just hangout and network.

Videos/Case Studies/Press:Get your company’s success story out to
the public on IBM’s dollar.Show others
how your company is innovative or smarter using IBM solutions by signing up to
participate in a video filmed at Pulse, a case study or even by talking to
press or analyst.Videos will be
promoted on YouTube, iTunes, IBM sites, Twitter, and many other outlets giving
you free publicity without any effort on your part, and what can be better than
that? Oh yeah, all of that plus a complimentary cash voucher to be used in the
logo store.

A Tivoli
Case Study writer will be on site to interview you in person, saving you the time
and frustration of having to do it after the event. Case studies are yet another excellent way for
you to get your IBM Tivoli success story to the public, as well as another easy
way for you to get more cash for the IBM logo store!

Don’t have
time to meet for an interview?If you
are a speaker at Pulse you have the option of letting us use your recorded
session to create your case study, and you will still get the cash for the logo
store, it has never been so easy.Once
our writer has drafted your case study you will have the chance to review and
approve before it is published.

With
all of the press and analysts that are attending Pulse there are many
opportunities to speak to someone and if you’re interested we can make sure you
are contacted directly for the opportunity.

Don’t be shy, be proud to be an IBM customer and reap the
benefits of your VIP status!

Want more information on how to participate in any of these
activities? Add a comment below with your question and we’ll hook you up with
some info.

Next, Bill Cheng, Vice President, Maximo Asset Management Solutions, will moderate a Maximo Innovation Customer Panel featuring several long standing clients from a multitude of industries. The panel is followed by Kristian Steenstrup, Vice President and Gartner Fellow who will discuss how intelligent assets lead to an intelligent EAM strategy, requiring better data acquisition, improved coordination, and timely reaction to intelligence.

The event concludes with the annual IBM Maximo Maintenance Best Practice Awards, recognizing organizations that have delivered exceptional innovation, ROI, return on assets (ROA), user empowerment and best practices through their use of IBM Maximo Asset Management. This is always an exciting part of the kickoff, check here for highlights on last year's winners.

You will walk away with:

An overview of the EAM curriculum at Pulse 2011, plus a chance to hear firsthand about the IBM’s Asset Management strategy and roadmap from key IBM executives

Learn about the customer experience through the Maximo Innovation Customer Panel and the annual Maintenance Best Practice Awards.

Thought leadership from one the industry's most respected research analysts

You are cordially invited to participate in the IBM Service Management Simulator Workshop (Cloud version) at Pulse on Sunday, February 27th from 12-3pm. The workshop is a hands-on simulation game which focuses on the challenges and business value of implementing Service Management best practices in the context of a realistic and exhilarating scenario. During the workshop, you'll use gaming dynamics to mirror the real-world interaction between IT and the business, from both a strategic and operational perspective. By attending the workshop, you will achieve an accelerated and breakthrough understanding of ITSM and ITIL best practices, a reinforcement of key concepts and information you can take back to your company to assess how ITIL best practices can contribute to your organization, and a better understanding of how the effectiveness of IT processes impacts the business.

Business Partners are invited to join IBM in Las Vegas, Nevada February 27 - March 2, 2011, for Pulse 2011. There are activities throughout the event that are geared to help Business Partners "Be Bold. Be Tivoli." in 2011.

If you are waiting for further details on the Pulse agenda before you register, then wait no more! Check out the Pulse Sample Agenda Builder where you will discover hundreds of sessions you just can't afford to miss for optimizing your organization's software, systems and services. You do not need to be registered for Pulse to navigate the Sample Agenda Builder and create your own personalized conference schedule. Get started now!

Note: You must register to attend any Pulse sessions.
A sample agenda does not reserve a session at Pulse.

Pulse Networking Begins Today

So now you've decided that you are going to Pulse. One of the top reasons you made the decision to attend Pulse is to take full advantage all the rich networking opportunities with the 6000-plus IBM experts, partners and clients in attendance. No need to wait until you arrive at the MGM in late February to start networking with other attendees. After you register for Pulse and receive your confirmation details, visit the Pulse SmartSite where all the excitement has already begun. Maximize your Pulse investment by getting a jump start and get to know everyone weeks before we cut the ribbon and open the expo on Sunday February 27.

The Pulse SmartSite is accessible today at www.pulsesmartsite.com and HTML5 smart phone browsers including Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile, and Blackberry Storm2, and of course onsite at event kiosks throughout the MGM Grand.

Introducing Dean Kamen, who will deliver the Guest Keynote at Pulse 2011, "The Future Belongs to Inventors"

As an inventor and physicist, Dean Kamen has dedicated his life to developing technologies that help people lead better lives. As an inventor, he holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. The array of products and technologies invented and developed by Mr. Kamen and the engineering team at DEKA is extremely broad. Two notable breakthrough medical devices invented and developed by DEKA are the HomeChoice™ portable dialysis machine, marketed by Baxter Healthcare, and the iBOT™ Mobility System, a sophisticated mobility aid developed for Johnson & Johnson. With the Segway™ Human Transporter, Mr. Kamen aspired to improve upon the most basic form of transportation, walking, by allowing people to go farther, move more quickly, and carry more without separating them from their everyday walking environment.

Among Mr. Kamen’s proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology. In 2009, its flagship program, the FIRST Robotics Competition, will reach more than 42,000 high-school students on close to 1,700 teams in 40 regional competitions, seven district competitions, and one national championship. The FIRST Robotics Competition teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the #Pulse conference each year is the announcement of the Tivoli Business Partner award winners. These awards highlight innovation, commitment and achievement by our Business Partners across the globe.

Tivoli is again pleased to invite Business Partners to submit nominations for the 2011 Tivoli Business Partner Awards. Award winners will be announced Sunday, February 27, during the Business Partner Summit, unless otherwise noted.

This year, nominations may be submitted in the following award categories.

ISM Summit Cup

This award recognizes the outstanding performance and value-add provided by a Business Partner selling Tivoli software. The Business Partner exemplifies commitment to Tivoli and has demonstrated extraordinary achievement. The Business Partner continuously strives to reach a new pinnacle of success when selling Tivoli Software by leading with ground-breaking solutions which are positioned to be drivers in tomorrow's new markets at an ingenuity level that stands out above their peers.

To qualify for the ISM Summit Cup award, the Business Partner company must meet at least four (4) of the following criteria:

SVP authorized in at least 2 Tivoli product groups

Hold at least one Accreditation
Provided a beta reference in the past 2 years

Have sold in 3 or more Tivoli pillars in the past four quarters

Have executed a successful co-marketing campaign in the past 4 quarters that resulted in new leads in GPP

Have been or are a Pulse sponsor in 2009, 2010 or 2011
Nominations must include at least two customer references.

Best of Show Award

This award recognizes a visionary Business Partner who is leading the charge to manage the world’s infrastructure with IBM Tivoli capabilities and solutions in innovative, leading-edge, exciting ways. This ground-breaking solution should be showcased at Pulse in the Expo and will encompass solving the problems of today’s IT market using creative methods, becoming a driver in tomorrow’s new markets, fostering new innovation and cutting edge solutions. Final evaluation takes place at the Pulse Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The solution must be demonstrated in the Pulse Expo and final evaluations take place at the Pulse Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 27, 2011.

Integrated Service Management Excellence Award

This award recognizes those IBM Business Partners who have adopted and leveraged the latest Service Management technology to demonstrate a unique and powerful solution that delivers the visibility, control and automation needed to industrialize business and IT operations. Particular consideration will be given to those solutions that utilize several IBM Tivoli software products at the heart of their solution. The solution must deliver smarter services, and manage a dynamic infrastructure that enables improved service, cost reduction and impermeable security management of the customer IT infrastructure through a cohesive set of IT services across the entire organization. The solution must already have been deployed to at least one customer location that can be referenced.

IBM Business Partners may nominate themselves for this award category or may be nominated by a customer or an IBM sales representative. There will be one winner and two finalists.

Business Partner Innovation Award

Innovate today for a smarter tomorrow. This award recognizes a visionary Business Partner who is leading the charge to manage the world’s infrastructure with IBM Tivoli capabilities and solutions in innovative, leading-edge, exciting ways. This solution encompasses solving the problems of today’s IT market using creative methods, becoming a driver in tomorrow’s new markets, fostering new innovation and cutting edge solutions.

Nominations will be open through February 4, 2011. Business Partners can nominate their solutions by completing and submitting this form. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of having your solution considered for one of these awards. Submit your nomination today.

While 2010 is coming to a close, extensive planning is in the works for Pulse 2011 to ensure it is a unparalleled experience for our Business Partners. The Business Partner Summit, Business Partner Cafe, Solution Expo, networking opportunities, and one-on-one meetings will all focus on helping Business Partners refine their strategy to design and deliver outstanding business services to their customers.

The exclusive Business Partner Summit will be held in conjunction with Pulse on Sunday, February 27. 92% of Business Partners surveyed at the 2010 Summit said it was a valuable use of their time. This year's Summit will include executive insights to Tivoli’s strategy and direction, along with many sessions designed to help you maximize performance and solidify how you and IBM can go to market together to drive business results. You will hear from industry, solution, sales, and marketing experts who will provide critical business information to help you identify where you can grow your business in 2011. Then the session-packed Pulse conference will provide the foundation of product and solution knowledge to jump-start that growth!

View this video from Sandy Carter, vice president, IBM Software Business Partners and Midmarket, as she extends a personal invitation to Pulse 2011 and the Business Partner Summit on Sunday, February 27. Then register to join us at Pulse!

It's been said that central Texas only has two seasons: summer and football season. If you’ve spent any time in a Texas summer, you might understand our zeal for the latter. Contrary to some folklore, Texans like a lot of other stuff about autumn. Here are a few more seasonal treats that inspire this Texan to put out the welcome mat for autumn, even as summer huffs the last of it’s dragon breath well into November.

Not catching on fire just stepping outdoors!

Football! (Mack Brown could help make this a little more inspiring.)

Road race season!

Halloween candy!

Pulse planning season! (I have a fun job!)

Turkey and dressing!

Daylight Savings Time!

Let’s pause for a moment because Daylight Savings Time alone can bring tears of joy to my eyes. Allow me to elaborate.

For starters, the sun comes up earlier. This is huge for runners. It’s harder for coyotes and mountain lions to stalk us after daybreak. An earlier dusk means I am alert enough to not only notice, but also enjoy our famous sunsets. And – best of all: the aliens that live with me my children are tricked into an earlier reboot
bedtime.

Ok, so what does all this have to do with Pulse? Nothing! But while I am celebrating being tricked into feeling like autumn gives me more time, let’s celebrate a real treat of extra time for you:

Pulse 2011 call for speakers has been extended to November 23, 2010. I promise that’s no trick, unless you were planning to submit a paper to the Enterprise Asset Management track. In that case, your extension treat expires on November 16.

Need Help Getting Started?

No problem! Here are a few suggestions to help you get started on the path to joining our agenda as a featured expert.

Do you have knowledge gleaned from experience about the following? If you do, please attend this morning's LIVE Virtual Event.

.

Service architectures
tailored by industry that address unique service delivery challenges
including security, storage and compliance requirements.

Service
lifecycle management that bridge workflow across line of business,
enterprise architecture, software development and testing, IT operations
(data center, security, storage, and network operations), and business
operations (production and facilities) to ensure successful “go-live”
and continual improvement of applications and services.

Service
dashboards that enable audiences from executives and business operations
to IT managers to see the service and gain insight into service health,
integrity (security and storage), and business activity.

Unified
management of service requests and problems spanning business and IT
that enable work orders to be automatically routed to the right support
staff.

Asset management that supports both enterprise and IT
assets across all asset classes with a single process model and a single
data model.

Pulse will return to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas February 27 through March 2, 2011, bringing over 6000 attendees the best practices, solutions and expertise needed to help organizations design, deliver and manage new, innovative business services - smarter services that drive unique client value and competitive advantage.

Attend the Pulse 2011 Introduction and Client Speaker Overview LIVE Virtual Event to learn more about Pulse 2011 and how sharing your expertise at the Premier Service Management Event can help broaden your sphere of influence. This virtual event will provide the information you need to know to prepare your proposal to present at Pulse 2011.

Hi Carol, go to www.ibm.com/PULSE and click on the link for "Submit
a Presentation." Browse through the more recent blog entries and
you can find one for How to prepare using the online paper
submission tool. Thanks and see you at Pulse!

QUESTION: How do you overcome the challenges of securing the data of people, processes, and technology across an organization today?

QUESTION: How do you approach sensitive data protection, data loss prevention, and enterprise encryption services? Do you focus in on critical areas or step back and attempt to address the enterprise as a whole?

QUESTION: Is replacing the security applications with the newest and highest rated product a cost effective or appropriate approach? Is it necessary or reasonable to attempt to change the security culture in an organization?

Consider your best laid plans to secure the data in your enterprise. Did you discover something simple yet amazing, or did you crack a complicated code to achieve results?

Here’s what a few of the Pulse 2010 client presenters told us after presenting a panel of unique expert experience from three diverse organizations, including a consulting firm, a gas and electric company, and a healthcare organization.

If securing the data center isn’t in your realm of expertise, here are some other topics in which there is a high demand for discussion leaders at Pulse 2011.

Service architectures tailored by industry that address unique service delivery challenges including security, storage and compliance requirements.

Service architectures tailored by industry that address unique service delivery challenges including security, storage and compliance requirements.

Service lifecycle management that bridge workflow across line of business, enterprise architecture, software development and testing, IT operations (data center, security, storage, and network operations), and business operations (production and facilities) to ensure successful “go-live” and continual improvement of applications and services.

Service dashboards that enable audiences from executives and business operations to IT managers to see the service and gain insight into service health, integrity (security and storage), and business activity.

Unified management of service requests and problems spanning business and IT that enable work orders to be automatically routed to the right support staff.

Asset management that supports both enterprise and IT assets across all asset classes with a single process model and a single data model.

.
As a bonus, all clients who present at Pulse will have the conference registration fee waived ($1995 value). In addition, the first 50 clients accepted to present at Pulse will receive a complimentary hotel upgrade. Client must pay for the basic room rate.